Telephone.



No. 640,823. "Patented Ian. 9, I900.

R. F. SMITH. TELEPHONE.

(Application filed Feb. 16, 1899.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 640,823. Patented Jan. 9, I900.

R. F. SMITH.

TELEPHONE (Application filed Feb. 16, 1899.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheats-Sheet 2.

' No. 640,823. Patented Ian. 9, I900.-

n. F. SMITH.

TELEPHONE.

(Application filed Feb. 16, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3..

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PATENT RANDALL F. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TELEPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,823, datedJanuary 9, 1900.

Application filed February 16, 1399. Serial No. 705,627. (No model.)

To all 1072 0711, it may concern.-

Be it'known that I, RANDALL F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State'of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephones, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is the production of a simple compact telephone to be used in connection with an intercolnmunicating system-a's, for instance, in a factory where telephonic communication between several different departments is desirable, among residences or business-houses, and on shipboard in communicating between different parts of the vessel.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sketch of the telephone system, indicating the connections necessary to permit station No. 1 to communicate through its telephone instrument with station No. 3, indicating also (by theassistance of dotted connecting-linesat the switchboards) the course of the electric current when the telephoner at station No. 1 rings the call-bell at station No. 2. Fig. 2 is aview of the switchboard, showing the transmitter and receiver folded. Fig. 3 represents the said transmitter and receiver unfolded, open for use. Fig. at is a view in the nature of a diagram, showing the relative positions of the contact-points of the switch within the hinge-joint between the transmitter and the receiver when the instrument is folded. Fig. 5 is a view similar to the preceding figure, showing saidv contactpoints in the relative positions occupied by them when the said instrument is open for use. Fig. 6 is a central section through the handle of the telephone instrument. Fig. 7 is a face view of the switch mechanism on the switchboard, the covering of said mechanism being removed. Fig. 8 is a section through said switch mechanism on dotted line as 00, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the switch, a portion of the outer casing being removed. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 represent a modified form of switch mechanism, Fig. 10 showing a'face view thereof with the casing removed, Fig. 11 a section through the switch-block on dotted liney y, Fig. 10, and Fig. 12 an edge view of the switch-hook.

Like letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 7 r

In the embodiment here shown of my invention I employ metalliccircuits throughout, and therefore must provide a cable having as many insulated Wires, plus two, as the system has stations. This cable runs from one station to another throughout the system. At each station is provided a switchboard having on one edge of its face a binding-post for the reception of each of said cable-wires,and on its opposite face a binding post for each of the two wires from the posts of a local battery called the .talkingbattery. At the top of the board is provided a call-bell and below the bell a switch for electrically connecting the telephone instruments connected with the switchboard with the line of any station in the system. This switch has a hook for suspending the transmitter and receiver, which transmitter and receiver in this instrument are joined and have in the frame supporting them a hinge permitting them to be folded together when not in use. This hinge also contains a switch for breaking the battery-circuits through the instrument when the hinge is closed and completing the circuits when the instrument is opened.

A is the switchboard, identical in mechanical construction in all stations, and as the system to be here described comprises four intercommunicating stations the switchboard illustrated is provided, near the right-hand side of its face, with six binding-posts, which at station No. 1 (for convenience to be here inafter called the home station) have been designated by the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and

posts 7and 8 near the left-hand edge of the board A.

Near the upper part of the switchboard A a call-bell is mounted, the wire 6 (hereinafter to be called the line-wire) being in circuit with the winding of the magnets of said hell 0. This circuit is completed by the wire 5, which is connected with one pole of the ringing-battery D, and is therefore called the ringing-battery wire. The other pole of the ringing-battery D is connected with the line-wire 6. One ringing-battery answers for the entire system and is located at any convenient point.

On the face of the board A a little distance below the bellC is provided the switch mechanism whereby the telephone at the home station may be electrically connected with the telephone of any other station of the system.

E is the base-block, of semicylindrical form, for the switch mechanism, and in the lower part thereof is pivoted the switch-hook E, having electrical connection through the hind ing-post '7 with the talking-batteryB and carrying on its side the contact-spring E The block E is provided with a central opening E for the reception of the switch-hook E, which opening is elongated to permit said hook to be moved upon its pivot. On the curving face of the base-block E and ,on one side of the opening E are affixed the insulated contact-points l,2 ,3,and at in electrical contact with the Wires and binding-posts 1, 2, 3, and a, respectively, the first representing the home station, and the wires 2, 3, and a running to the home contact-point (the lower one of the series) of each'station.to wit, to stations Nos. 2, 3, and 4, respectively. This arrangement whereby the home contactpoint of every station is the lower one of the series of contact-plates is adopted in order that the act of hanging the instru ment upon the switchhook E automatically brings said hook intov contact with the home contact-plate, guarding against the circuit being left open by the thoughtlessness of a telephoner. In the opposite side of the base-block E is an opening Eflhavin g the several contact-springs-to wit, 6at the upper side of the said opening, which is the main-line wire 6, after passing through the coils of the call-bell magnets; 7,

one of thelines of the talking-battery B from binding-post 7 g 5, the ringing-battery wire 5 from binding-post 5; 8, the opposite line of the talking-battery B from binding-post 8, and 6* the line-wire 6, direct from bindingpost 6. cord F has corresponding contact-points, and the wires of said cord are in proper electrical conneotion both with said contact-springs,

and the proper lines in the telephone instrument to be next described. The plug F is removable from its engagement with the openingE,whereby the telephone instrument may be removed from its connections with the switchboard.

The telephone instrument when folded is substantially of rectangular outline,a-nd comprises the hollow handle G, having the tubular arm G extending at right angles thereto and bearing atits outer end the transmitter G At A plug F at the end of a five-wire the opposite end of the handle G is pivoted the hollow arm G having the receiver G at its outer end and in such a position that the face of said receiver Gr folds against the face of the transmitter G The handle G, together with the tubular arms G and G comprise the supporting-frame of the telephone instrument. The cord F enters the handle G at the end bearing the transmitter-arm G, the ringingbattery wire therefrom leading directly to one point of the push-button G fixed on said handle G, the other side of said push-button connecting, through the hinge between the handle G and the pivoted arm G with the switch-hook E. An induction-coil G is located within the handle G, and wires from the primary coil thereof extend outward through the arm G to their proper and usual connections with the transmitter, while the lines of the secondary coil of said induction-coil G form the usual magnet-windings within the receiver. At the hinge-joint, between the handle G and the receiver-arm Git-he receiverwires terminate in the two curving contactpoints (El and G embedded within the fiattened end of the said arm Giwhich lies within the bifurcation G of the end of the said handle G. On the opposite side of said flattened portion of said arm G the semicircular contact-plate G is affixed, the said contact plates G and G being in electrical connection by means of a rivet passing through said arm G Four contact-points G ,G ,G and G suitably insulated, lie within a hollowed portion of the handle G opposite said contact-plates G G and G, two of said points lying on each side of said arm G The contact-point (l is electrically connected with one of the lines of the talking-battery B and with the switch-hook E and is in touch with its contact-plate G at all times. The contact-point G is a terminal of the line-wire 6, extending through the secondary winding of the induction-coil G and is in touch with its contact-plate Gr only when the instrument is open for talking. The 'contactrpoint G carries the other line of the talking-battery B and is also electrically connected with the switch-hook E through the transmitter G and the primary winding of the inductioncoil G. It is in contact with the plate G only when the instrument is open for talking. The contact G is the terminal of the main line 6 through the coils of the call-bell O and is in touch with its contact-plate G only when the instrument is closed.

By reference to the diagrammatic view Fig. lit will thus be seen that when the instrument is open for talking it is connected with main-line Wire 6 on one side and through the hook E with the wire of any other station. It the push-button G is pressed when the instrument is open, with the switch-hook E at the desired point, only the call-bell of the called station will be rung; but if operated when the telephone is closed both the callbell of the home station and of the called station will be sounded. It will also be seen that when the telephone is closed the batterycircuits are open.

The dotted line from the switch-hook E, station N0. 1, Fig. 1, to binding-post No. 2 indicates the required position of said hook in that station in order to ring the call-bell at station No. 3, Fig. 1, when the push-button G is operated.

The operation of this telephone is as follows: WVhen a telephoner at any station desires to communicate with a person at any other station, he takes the telephone instrument from the switch-hook E, places the said switch-hook opposite and in contact with the plate which is the terminal of the line leading from the desired station,presses the pushbutton G opens the telephone, and the circuitbetween the two said stations is complete, including therein the two telephone instruments and the talking-battery B of the home station. When a call is made,-the person at the station called opensthe telephone and proceeds to talk, all connections having been made by the telephoner at the calling station.

The main line 6 is always one line of a circuit between intercommunicating stations, the circuit being completed through the switch-hook E and the wire extending from the contact-plate on the switchboard of the telephoners home station to the home contactplate (the lower plate) on the switchboard at the station called. The ringing-circuit is made up of the main line 6 and the ringing-battery line 5, one pole of the ringingbattery D being connected with each of said lines 5 and 6.

The course of the current incident to the connections shown in Fig. 1, enabling station No. 1 to communicate with station No. 3 and wherein the switch-hook E is assumed to be at the contact-point 3f and switch-hooks at other stations are at their respective homecontact-points, may be traced as follows, starting at the talking-battery B, station No. 1: talking-battery binding-post No. S, transmitter G primary winding of induction-coil G, contact-point G contact G connectingrivet, contact G receiver G contact G con-' tact-point G secondary winding of induction-coil, binding-post 6, line-wire 6 to station No. 3, binding-post 6, secondary winding of induction-coil, contact-point G contact G receiver G contact G contact-point G connecting-rivet,contact G contact G ,primary winding of induction-coil, transmitter G binding-post G ,talking-battery at station No. 3, binding-post No. 7, hook E, station No. 3, and contact-point 3.

The course of the current shown in Fig. 1 permitting the telephoner at station No. 1 to ring the call-bell at station No. 2 is as follows: ringing-battery D, line-wire 5, binding-post 5, station No. 1, push-button G switch-hook E of station No. 1, binding-post 2, line-wire 2, binding-post 2 of station No. 2, switch-hook E, station No. 2, contact-point G, contact G ,connecting-rivet,contact G ,contact-point G bell C, station No. 2, line-wire 6, ringingbattery D, line-wire 5 to binding-post 5.

The local transmitter-circuit may be traced as follows in station No. 1, it being the same in all other stations: transmitter, primary winding of induction-coil, contact-point G contact G connecting-rivet, contact G contact-point G line to switch-hook, switchhook E, binding-post 7, talking battery B, binding-post 8, line to transmitter.

The modified form of switch shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12 contemplates the making of all connections now made by the operation of the hinge in the telephone instrument by the switch-hook. Here, as in the other switch mechanism, a seinicylindrical base-block H has contact-points 10, 11, 12, and 13 on one side of its face representing all stations on the line, number 10 representing the home station, and each-being the terminal of a wire in the cable running from the home-plate of each of the several stations in the system. The pivoted switch hook H, forked at its outer end, is free to be moved within the opening H into such position that its contact-spring H lies in engagement with any one of the several contact-plates 10, 11, 12, and 13, the hook itself being in contact with the common return or main-line plate 15, except when said hook is at its position of rest, when it is in contact with the bell-wire plate 16 and its contactspring H in touch with the contact-plate 10 of the home station. A stud H is the terminal of one of the lines of the talking-battery at the home station and a curving spring H secured to the base of the block H,normallylies in contact therewith,the purpose of said spring being to raise the switch-hook H from the bell-wire contact 16 and into contact with the main-line plate 15 when the telephone instrument is removed from said switch-hook. The raising of the hook as just indicated removes it from engagement with the stud H; but electrical connection with said hook is still had through the medium of the spring H which touches the said stud H when the hook is raised by said spring. Connection is thus made with the talking-battery of the station called, the battery of the calling station not being included in the circuit.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a telephone, in combination, a handle, an arm extending from said handle substantially at right angles thereto, an arm having a pivotal connection with the opposite end of said handle, a receiver and a transmitter each mpunted on one of said arms and adapted to fold together face to face, and battery and line connections for said receiver and said transmitter.

2. In a telephone, in combination, a tubular handle, a tubular arm extending from said handle substantially at right angles thereto, a tubular arm having a pivotal connection with the opposite end of said handle, a receiver and a transmitter each mounted on one of 1;; emcee said tubular arms and being adapted to fold together face to face when not in use, and bat tery and line connections for said receiver and said transmitter.

3; In a telephone, in combination, a tubular handle, a tubular arm extending substantially at right angles to said handle, a transmitter mounted on the outer end of said arm, the axial line of which transmitter is parallel with the axial line of said handle, a tubular arm having a pivotal connection with the opposite end of said handle, a receiver mounted on the outer end of said last-mentioned tubular arm, and beingadapted to fold against said transmitter, and battery and line connections for said transmitter and said receiver.

a. In a telephone, in combination, ahandle, a transmitter and a receiver, one of which has a pivotal connection with said handle, battery and line connections for said transmitter and said receiver, and a switch adapted to be actuated by the movement at said pivotal connection for changing the electrical connections within said instrument when it is opened or closed.

5. In a telephone, in combination, a handle, an induction-coil in said handle, a transmitter and a receiver, the latter having a pivotal connection with said handle, batteryv and line connections for said transmitter and said receiver, and a switch for said pivotal connection for changing the electrical connections within said instrument when the instrument is opened or closed.

6. In atelephone, in combination, a handle, an induction-coil in said handle, an arm extending substantially at right angles from said handle, a transmitter mounted onsaid arm, an arm pivoted to the opposite end of said handle, a receiver mounted on said lastmentioned arm, battery and line connections for said transmitter and said receiver, and a switch for said pivotal connection for changing the electrical connections within said instrument when the instrument is opened or closed. a

7. In a telephone, in combination, a tubular handle, an induction-coil within said handle, a tubular arm extending substantially at right angles to said handle, a transmitter mounted on the outer end of said arm, a tubular arm pivoted to the opposite end of said handle, a receiver mounted on said last-mentioned arm at its outer end, which transmitter and receiver are adapted to fold together vface to nection with the opposite end of said handle, a receiver mounted on the outer end of said last-mentioned tubular arm and being adapted to fold against said transmitter, battery and line connections for said push-button, said transmitter and said receiver, and a switch for said pivotal connection for changing the electrical connections within said instrument when the instrument is opened or closed.

9. In a telephone, in combination, a tubular handle, an ind notion-coil therein, which han dle has at one end a tubular arm extending substantially at right angles therefrom, and at its opposite end bifurcations for receiving a second tubular arm having a pivotal connection with said handle, a push button moun ted on said handle, a transmitter mount"- ed on the outer end of the first-mentioned arm, a receiver secured to the outer end of the pivotal arm, which transmitter and receiver are adapted to fold together, battery and lineconnections for said push-button, said transmitter and said receiver, and a switch operated by the movement of the re ceiver-arm upon its pivot, for changing the electrical connections within said instrument when the instrument is opened or closed.

10. In a telephone, in combination, a tubular handle, studs at the opposite ends of said handle, one of which studs is bifurcated, a tubular arm pivoted between the bifurcations of said last-mentioned stud, a receiver mounted on the opposite end of said arm, a tubular arm extending from the last-named stud and rigidly secured to said stud, a transmitter mounted on the outer end of said last-mentioned arm, which said receiver and transmit ter are adapted to be folded together, a pushbutton mounted on said handle, an inductioncoil within the handle, battery and line connections for said push-button, said receiver and said transmitter, electrical contact-points within said bifurcated stud, contact-plates on the pivoted receiver-arm, which contactpoints and contact-plates are in electrical connection with the lines within said telephone, whereby the electrical connections in said 'telephone are changed when the receiver-arm telephone system, in combination, contactplates, a pivotal switch-hook, a contact-sprin g on said switch-hook adapted to engage said contact-plates, a plate having connection with a call-bell, a plate having connection with a line-wire, which last'mentioned plate is adapt-.

ed to contact said switch-hook, a stud electrically connected with a talking-battery adapted to be engaged by said switch-hook, and a spring for raising the said hook from the call-bell plate to the talking-battery plate,

base, a switch-hook having a pivotal support at or near a point concentric with the curve of the periphery of said base, which switchhook'is adapted to electrically engage said contact-plates as it is moved upon its pivot, an annunciator, a line-wire, means for forming an electrical connection between said switch-hook and said annunciator, means for forming an electrical connection between said switch-hook and said line-wire, and a spring for moving said switch-hook.

13. In a telephone-switch, in combination, a semicylindrical base, a series of contactplates arranged about the periphery of said base, a switch-hook having a pivotal support at or near a point concentric with the curve of the periphery of said base, a contactspring on said switch-hook adapted to engage said contact-plates when said switch-hook is moved upon its pivotal support, a plate on the periphery of said base having connection with a line-wire, a call-bell plate also upon the periphery of said base, and a spring for raising said switch-hook from electrical connection with said call-bell plate to the plate having connection with a line-wire.

14. In a telephone-switch, in combination, a semicylindrical base, a series of contactplates arranged about the periphery of said base, a switch-hook having a pivotal support at or near a point concentric with the curve of the periphery of said base, a contactspring on said switch-hook adapted to engage said contact-plates, means for adjusting the tension of said spring, a plate about the periphery of said base having connection with a call-bell, a peripheral plate having connection with a line-wire, a stud electrically connected with a talking-battery, which stud is adapted to be engaged by said switch-hook, and a spring for moving said hook from the call-bell plate into electrical connection with the line-wire plate.

15. In a telephone-switch, in combination, a semicylindrical base, a series of contactplates arranged about the periphery of said base, a switch-hook having a pivotal support at or near a point concentric with the curve of the periphery of said base, which switchhook is adapted to electrically engage said contact-plates, an annunciator, an electrical circuit, means for forming an electrical connection between said switch-hook and said annunciator, means for forming an electrical connection between said switch-hook and said electrical circuit, a talking-battery, and a spring for raising said switch-hook from electrical connection with the annunciator into electrical engagement with the talking-battery and the electrical circuit.

16. In atelephone-switch, in combination, a semicylindrical base, a series of contactplates on the periphery thereof, a switch-hook I having a pivotal support at or near a point concentric with the curve of the periphery of said base adapted to electrically engage said contact-plates, a plate on the periphery of said base having connection with a call-bell,

a plate on said periphery having connection with a line-wire, which two last-mentioned plates are adapted to contact said switchhook, a stud on said base electrically connected with a talking-battery, which stud is adapted to be engaged by said switch-hook, and a spring for raising said hook from the call-bell plate to the line-wire plate and for electrically connecting said hook with the talking-battery when so raised.

17. In a telephone-switch, in combination, a semicylindrical base having an elongated central opening therein, a series of contactplates arranged about the periphery of said base on one side of said elongated opening, a switch-hook adapted to sustain a telephonereceiver, having a pivotal support at or near a point concentric with the curve of the periphery of said base, which hook extends through the elongated opening in said base, a contact-sprin g on said switch-hook adapted to engage said contact-plates, a plate on the opposite side of said elongated opening having connection with a line-wire, a plate having connection with a call-bell, a stud extending into the path of said pivoted hook, which stud is electrically connected with a talking-bat tery, and a spring for moving said switchhook from the call-bell plate into electrical connection with the line-wire plate when the weight of the telephone-receiver is removed from said hook.

RANDALL F. SMITH. Witnesses:

GEO. L. OHINDAHL, L. L. MILLER. 

